For 10 years, a California-based nonprofit called Matter of Trust has been collecting hair and fur. Oil clings to both, a fact that leads Americans to lather, rinse and repeat regularly. The collected fibers are woven into mats or stuffed into donated nylons to create booms.

Salons regularly mail in hair swept up from their floors, but the effort is being stepped up in response to the Gulf spill.

"Thousands of pounds of hair and nylons are coming in by UPS and Fed Ex from every state in the U.S. and from Canada, Brazil, France, and the UK," reads a statement on Matter of Trust's website, matteroftrust.org. "Booms are being made all along the Gulf Coast near beaches and marshes. What a community feeling!"

Scarbrough contacted Matter of Trust, which has given her the address of a Florida warehouse that will accept the donated hair and fur from the Savannah area.

Cathi Denham, owner of Catnip n Biscuits kennels and doggy day care, agreed to provide a drop-off location. Coastal Pet Rescue will also accept donations at its adoption event May 16 at Seaside Sisters on Tybee Island.

Scarbrough has already collected a grocery bag of white fur brushed from the coat of DaVinci, one of her two huskies. Hemmingway is next up.

"It takes several days to brush them out," she said. "They're enjoying the attention and don't realize they're doing it for a good cause."

Pet fur or human hair should be collected without any debris, and as clean as possible, into grocery bags, compacting them as much as possible to reduce the air for shipping. Keep fur separate from hair.

The bags may be dropped off at Catnip n Biscuits, 2615 Skidaway Road, from 9 a.m.-noon or 2-5 p.m. Coastal Pet Rescue also will accept donations at its adoption event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16 at Seaside Sisters, 1207 U.S. 80 on Tybee Island.

In addition to fur and hair, nylon stockings are needed. Stockings with runs are acceptable. The nylons should not be stuffed with the fur before donating.

All donations will be sent to Matter of Trust, which separates the fur and mixes it with donated human hair to create the oil booms. Coastal Pet Rescue welcomes any business that would like to assist with shipping costs once supplies have been collected. For more information, e-mail Lisa Scarbrough at lisa@coastalpetrescue.org.